Tracking Vital Signs, Wirelessly
Blood pressure, temperature, pulse and respiratory rate. Such vital signs are measures of physiological responses, which are relied upon by health professionals in order to assess basic body functions. Imagine a year when you can get your vital signs read n a daily or even second-by-second basis AT home. And also wirelessly sent to your doctor’s office for analysis and possible treatment. Now, you don’t have to imagine. That was 2011.
- The main reason for checking body temperature is to solicit any signs of systemic infection or inflammation in the presence of a fever (temp > 38.5°C or sustained temp > 38°C), or elevated significantly above the individual's normal temperature.
- The pulse, the physical expansion of the artery, is usually measured at the wrist by runners, or the carotid neck arteries during emergencies. The pulse varies with age. A newborn or infant can have a heart rate of about 130-150 beats per minute. A toddler's heart will beat about 100-120 times per minute, an older child's heartbeat is around 90-110 beats per minute, adolescents around 80-100 beats per minute, and adults pulse rate is anywhere between 50 and 80 beats per minute.
- The respiratory rate is more important in emergent settings, but is understood to vary with age, with an adult’s normal range being 12–20 breaths/minute.
- The American Heart Association has recently classified blood pressure into ranges where the desirable range is 90-119 systolic over 60-79 diastolic.
- These four vital signs are influenced by various physiological factors such as obesity, pre-existing conditions such as asthma, exercise levels, drugs and alcohol.
- Until this experimental digital plaster becomes commercialized for the general public, you probably can't go wrong with a reasonably priced home BP monitor ($50-$100) which also logs your pulse. Although, I wouldn't recommend this unless you have a chronic illness.
- There is always the local pharmacy and/or grocery stores which offer the seated arm cuffs to log your BP before/after your errands.
- Log your height and weight regularly as well - this usually alerts one to make more health conscious decisions with exercise and diet habits.
- Some humor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIoao8fnRnU&feature=player_embedded
